Concerned Rivers Citizens (CRC) has said that Rivers state Governor Siminalayi Fubara in a desperate bid to rubbish his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, his propaganda machinery has shot itself in the leg displaying five percent retention fee as fraud in a letter that emanated from his office.
This was revealed in a statement issued and signed by the convener of Concerned Rivers Citizens CRC, Emmanuel Chibuzor on Friday.
The group said: ” This is the first time where correspondence stamped at the Governors office and sent directly to the Governor is released to be used for unintelligent deception and social media hype laced with deliberate falsehood.
“Whoever released that letter is either brimming with ignorance or banking on the silence of those that know better.
“The letter clearly states the money in discussion is money held for “retention” nothing else.
“Retention is 5% of the contract sum kept by the Government for a period, it is released at the expiration of the defect liability period of a project and is done for ALL projects.
“The project in this letter was executed at N5.28bn, 95% of the project sum was paid, the project was completed and commissioned and the retention (5%) was kept as is the norm.
“We can tell you with certainty that the SIM Government is in possession of the 5% retention for the old Bori road he just commissioned and will do the same for all other projects he will commission.
“Finally, the funds for this project was fully approved by Wike and the 5% retention which is what is reflected in this paper from Governor SIM’s office was held by the Accountant General who happened to be the same SIM.
This was vividly showed in a letter sighted and dated March 7th, 2024 and received in Government House testifying that Fubara and his cohorts are men swimming in the ocean of ignorance.
The company didn’t attach previous demand letters for job commissioned almost 8 years ago.
